One Batman to rule them all! 5 reasons LEGO Batman owns all those who came before

With a solo film due for release early next year, LEGO Batman is arguably already one of the most popular incarnations of the Caped Crusader. Armed with witty one-liners and the Dark Knight's trademark brand of
vigilantism, it's hard to find fault with our favourite master builder. Here's our top five reasons why we think he's the best version yet.

5. He exists within the LEGO universe

The LEGO universe is vast, and flirts between the real world and fantasy. Remember the Duplo alien invasion at the end of The LEGO Movie? Or what about the tube of glue (the KRAGLE) that was the most powerful super weapon in existence? These are the kind of offbeat plots you'd expect from shows like The Mighty Boosh, not a PG-rated blockbuster. It's different, and that's why we love it.

Having already offered a begrudging hand to help topple the villainous Lord Business (voiced by comedy heavyweight Will Ferrell), LEGO Batman's next big-screen adventure looks set to be every bit as entertaining. Tasked with stopping his 'unhealthy behaviour', Batman must teach his young protégée, Robin (Michael Cera), the crime-fighting ropes. Can they work together to overcome The Joker (Zach Galifianakis of The Hangover) and save Gotham City? We certainly hope so.

4. He's self-aware

LEGO Batman's starring role in his own film is set to be as riotously hilarious and self absorbed as his appearance in 2014's smash-hit The LEGO Movie.

Mindful he's now long in the tooth, in one brief skit Batman proudly tells Alfred (voiced by Ralph Fiennes) that he's aged 'phenomenally'. Which, for a character who's appeared in the original 1966 Batman, two Tim Burton Batman movies, Batman Forever, Batman and Robin, Batman vs Superman and Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, we have to agree with.

Following in the footsteps of a bunch of Hollywood A-listers, Arrested Development scene-stealer Will Arnett reprises the role he made his own thanks to his sharp-tongue and raspy voice. Really, you can't help but find his wry take on the world's greatest detective entertaining.

3. He's got the gift of the gab

Whilst Adam West's antics in the 1960s introduced us to thumping words like 'KAPOW' and 'BAM', LEGO Batman brings with him his own punchy vocabulary, like his audible 'GASP' at being caught in daylight – a playful nod to the fact he's Batman.

With outrageous outbursts making for brilliant on-screen moments. his performance is memorable simply because he's larger than life, almost to the point where he behaves like a CGI-animated version of Brian Blessed. Christian Bale may have helped re-invent the darker, more realistic Bruce Wayne in recent years, but it's LEGO Batman who has taken it to a totally new level deploying his own brand of humorous satire.

With such a big personality, even filler moments end up being comedy gold. Name another Batman who could get away with casually dropping in that they're an expert beat boxer, writer, director and sound mixer – all in their spare time, and whilst they're meant to be introducing a brand new teaser trailer. LEGO Batman, we doff our cap to you.

2. He's also got awesome wingmen

While most films like to keep their supporting cast to a minimum, the LEGO universe throws caution to the wind.

Much like Game of Thrones, there are a host of characters all with mini plots waiting to be explored – case in point being The LEGO Movie where we are introduced to a coliseum full of master builders! In the space of just two minutes we briefly meet the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Michelangelo (the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Spaceman Benny.

With too many characters to list, we can only hope we are treated to more quick cameo moments like those enjoyed by Shaquille O'Neal and Han Solo.
Following a script that's bound to play out at an electrifying pace don't be surprised if we see Wonder Woman, Superman, The Green Lantern and The Flash rapidly join forces with Batman to form the Justice League.

How all these egos will work together to save Gotham is the great unknown, but we can't wait to see Superman again try and shake off his number one fanboy and all round pain, Green Lantern. Let silliness ensue!

1. Did we mention he's a master builder?

When you think of master builders (and we clearly do a lot!) your go-to character is probably Emmet, Wyldstyle or maybe at a push Vitruvius, all from The LEGO Movie. Batman, we guess, probably didn't jump out as an obvious answer... and that's a good thing! It's actually another reason to love him.

With such a big personality and such a dominant on-screen presence it's easy to forget that he's actually really, really very good at what he does. Would Emmet have been able to overcome Lord Business without Batman's early intervention? We think not.

And whilst all those actors who've donned the cowl before have been limited by real-world physics, the same rules don't apply to LEGO Bruce. Where Bale had the Bat-pod, Batman has anything he can imagine, just so long as he's got enough black bricks to hand.

Being a master builder LEGO Batman has God-like powers, which controversially goes against everything we've come to learn about the Caped Crusader. For purists this is probably enough of a reason to dismiss his credentials as one of the best, but we just see it as a new cool string to add to the bat-bow.

A hater of build instructions and creator of super fast man-toys, we can't get enough! Want to see the Batmobile transform into the Batplane? No problem. Probably a good idea to get Alfred to fit a seatbelt first though...

So what do you think? Will LEGO Batman be remembered as one of the greats or is he just another brick in the wall? Wing us your thoughts @Cineworld.

Nathan Atkinson is a writer who blogs for Cineworld as part of our news team.